Japan’s Regulators Release a List of Permissible Games in Casinos

Some of the biggest companies in the land-based gambling industry have been focusing on the latest developments in Japan ever since its lawmakers decided to discuss the idea of building casinos.

The entire process is slow, as the regulators are still deciding on the location and possible operators who’ll receive a license to operate one of the three integrated resorts. Still, there’s a lot of work to be done, and none of the casinos are expected to launch before 2025.

Recently, the Casino Management Board in Japan came up with a list of casino games that will be allowed inside the three IRs.

According to Inside Asian Gaming’s report, the list currently consists of 21 games, most of which are still officially banned in Japan. IR visitors who like baccarat will have a chance to play the two most popular versions of this card game.

Moreover, poker will come in all shapes and sizes, since the regulators allowed a total of eight variations of poker. The source also revealed that players will have an opportunity to enjoy playing four different versions of blackjack, in addition to games such as sic bo, craps, casino war, pai gow, and Money Wheel.

Of course, one should not forget slots, which will probably be the most dominant type of games in integrated resorts in Japan. On the other hand, some of the traditional gaming options in the country, such as pachislots, pachinko, and mahjong, will not be allowed inside the resorts.

Who’s Making Decisions?

Both chambers that are part of the Japanese legislative body issued an approval for a five-member Casino Management Board in November 2019. The board’s task was to serve as the official regulator for the casino market in the country, which is still basically non-existent. The head of this organization is Michio Kitamura, who had worked as a Legal Compliance Inspector General for the Ministry of Defense in Japan before he was appointed to his new position.

The regulators also discussed various restrictions for problem gamblers. For example, one of the suggested methods was employing a one-year ban for any player who would display signs of gambling addiction. Such players will have their monthly visiting limits cut subsequently. Moreover, operators will be required to exhibit the current time inside casinos and offer a consultation desk for all visitors who suspect that they’re having a gambling problem.

The regulator also suggested forbidding all kinds of cash machines, incentives, or programs that could result in gambling passion arousal. In other words, IR will probably not feature any kind of loyalty programs or similar schemes.

The talks about the three land-based casinos that will be part of three integrated resorts started in 2018. However, it’s still uncertain when the actual building process will start, as there’s too much red tape and Japanese regulators really want to consider every possible aspect before taking the next step. However, rough estimates say that casinos won’t open their doors before 2025.

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